ITV

Category: Regulators

  • Three months deadline to channels for responding to clarifications: MIB

    Three months deadline to channels for responding to clarifications: MIB

    NEW DELHI: Even as it said it will not respond to applications of permissions for licences if an applicant has delayed in responding to queries by more than three months, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry today gave a final grace period of 15 days to 73 applications.

     

    The Ministry said in a note today that a stock-taking had shown that in 20 per cent to 40 per cent cases, applicants took anything between three months to one year to reply to the information sought by the Ministry. So, the ministry has said that henceforth, it will close requests where clarification has been due for more than three months.

     

    A final call has been given to all to send in their clarifications that are pending within 15 days.

     

    At the same time, it said that it is committed to granting permissions and other regulatory approvals as soon as clearances and clarifications are obtained in a speedy and transparent manner. It said that no permissions can be “held up intentionally.”

     

    However, the company’s response sometimes becomes crucial to expeditious disposal of such requests.

     

    Failure by the companies to reply, delays the whole process leading to an impression that the permissions are held up by the Ministry.

     

    The Ministry also sent separate emails to the concerned companies.

     

    Applicants include major players like Big RTL Broadcast, INX News, UTV Entertainment, Sarthak Entertainment, Focus group, News Express among others. Some of these have filed applications for more than one channel. 

  • Supriya Sahu gets three-month extension as JS in I&B

    Supriya Sahu gets three-month extension as JS in I&B

    NEW DELHI: Senior Indian Administrative Officer, Supriya Sahu, has been given a three-month extension as joint secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

     

    Her term ends later this month. The extension has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

     

    Ministry sources told indiantelevision.com that the necessary proposal for extension beyond 22 July had been moved prior to the election of the new government.  The normal term of an IAS officer is five years, said the sources.

     

    A 1991 Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, Sahu is presently joint secretary (Broadcasting) in the Ministry.

     

    Prior to this, she was broadcasting director at MIB and was directly involved with the drawing up of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill and the Content Code for TV channels.

     

    As JS, she has been involved with digitisation of cable television as well as the dynamic growth of both FM and community radio.

  • TRAI audits MSOs in Kolkata

    TRAI audits MSOs in Kolkata

    KOLKATA:  The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will not allow any laxity in achieving complete digitisation in phase I markets. After issuing several directions to multi system operators (MSOs) operating in the region, the regulator has now decided to visit all the MSOs to inspect whether the DAS regulations have been maintained, technical issues have been resolved and CAS and SMS are in place.

     

    Industry sources reveal that the TRAI officials inspected the office of Kolkata based MSOs, 18 June onwards.  As part of this, the regulator checked if the details in the subscriber management system (SMS) were duly filled. It can be recalled that TRAI had, a few weeks ago, in a directive, asked the MSOs to keep their SMS updated and also start online pre-paid and post-paid billing facility.

     

    Sources indicate that while all the MSOs were prepared for this inspection, billing in the KM area with more than 32 lakh cable TV homes emerged as the biggest issue for some as customers were not paying as per the bill. “During the inspection, TRAI officials noted non-compliance of the provisions of the regulations by the service providers,” inform the sources.

     

    Siticable Kolkata director Suresh Sethia adds, “It is for the first time that TRAI officials came to our office for auditing. They checked our SMS, CAF, SAF and our agreement with the LCOs.”

     

    “The TRAI officials who visited the offices of the various MSOs in the region for two-three days, questioned them on the nitty-gritty’s of facts and information that were missing,” informs the source.

  • TRAI seeks views on migration to IP-based networks

    TRAI seeks views on migration to IP-based networks

    NEW DELHI: IP inter-connection issues including the co-existence of legacy network with IP based networks and requirement of regulatory intervention in IP based interconnection have been raised in a new consultation paper by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

     

    The paper also wants the opinion of stakeholders on interconnection requirement for application and content service providers; quality of service issues; and various other operational issues- sharing of network elements, emergency numbering etc.

     

    The consultation paper on ‘Migration to IP based Networks’ wants stakeholders to file their views by 21 July and counter-comments by 28 July.  

     

    Traditional telecommunication systems are migrating towards more powerful and viable internet protocol based telecommunication systems.  Migration to IP based network will result in co existence of legacy network along with IP based network. The new IP based network as well as its co-existence with legacy network will give rise to several operational, interconnection and quality of service issues which needs to be addressed for the successful migration to IP based networks.

     

  • MIB wants you to create an ad for 15 August

    MIB wants you to create an ad for 15 August

    MUMBAI: The new government wants to give the common man an opportunity to bring out the passion for the country and creativity.

     

    The Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s (MIB) directorate of adverting & visual publicity (DAVP) has invited print advertisement creative designs from general public on the occasion of 68th Independence Day. The theme of the advertisement is ‘Sabke Saath Sabka Vikaas.’

     

    The selection committee will shortlist the 10 best advertisement designs. The best advertisement design will be published in newspapers across the country on 15 August as well as the winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 15000 along with a letter of appreciation from the MIB.

     

    The remaining nine shortlisted advertisements will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 3000 each along with a letter of appreciation from the Ministry.

     

    The advertisement of the size of 25×33 cms or 825 sq cms in colour has to be sent in a PDF format on davp-partnership@gmail. com.

     

    The last date for receipt of entries is 15 July.

  • Marginal increase in broadband subscribers between March and April 2014

    Marginal increase in broadband subscribers between March and April 2014

    NEW DELHI: There was an increase of a marginal 1.45 per cent in the number of broadband subscribers between March and April this year, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) report.

    The total number of subscribers went up from 60.87 million to 61.74 million in all segments: wired subscribers, mobile device users (Phones + Dongles), and fixed wireless (Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Point-to-Point Radio & VSAT).

    The largest change of 2.5 per cent was seen in the fixed wireless segment, while there was a change of 1.78 per cent in the mobile users and just 0.34 per cent in the wired subscribers.

    The top five broadband service providers constitute 83.65 per cent market share of total broadband subscribers at the end of April. They are BSNL (16.94 million), Bharti (12.84 million), Idea (7.45 million), Vodafone (7.26 million) and Reliance Communications Group (7.15 million).

    The top five Wired Broadband Service providers are BSNL (10.01 million), Bharti (1.38 million), MTNL (1.13 million), You Broadband (0.39 million) and Beam Telecom (0.38 million).

    The top five Wireless Broadband Service providers are Bharti (11.46 million), Idea (7.45 million), Vodafone (7.26 million), Reliance Communications Group (7.04 million) and BSNL (6.93 Million).

    In telecom, private operators hold 89.36 per cent of the wireless subscriber market share where as BSNL and MTNL, the two PSU operators hold only 10.64 per cent market share. 

    Click here to read the full report

  • Broadcasters, teleports warned on forex payments without I&B permission

    Broadcasters, teleports warned on forex payments without I&B permission

    NEW DELHI: The government has warned broadcast companies and teleport operators who have obtained permission for services of foreign satellites without prior approval of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry for remittance in foreign exchange of hiring charges which is mandatory under a circular of the Finance Ministry of September 2004.

     

    Ministry joint secretary (Broadcasting) Supriya Sahu in an advisory reiterated the need and importance for seeking prior approval of the Ministry for making payments in foreign exchange towards hiring of transponders of foreign satellites and complying with the existing provisions of the Reserve Bank of India in this regard.

     

    She stressed that the I&B Ministry is the administrative Ministry for granting permission to remittance of Forex for hiring charges of transponders on foreign satellites by TV channels/ teleports.

     

    She said that in view of this, all broadcast companies and teleport operators are advised to strictly follow the guidelines under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999. Any proposal seeking approval of the Ministry should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the date before which the payment is due.

     

    She drew attention of the broadcasters to the Reserve Bank of India Circular of October 2004 wherein authorised dealer banks had been apprised that proposals for remittance of hiring charges of transponders by TV channels would require prior approval of the Ministry. The circular also stressed on the authorised dealer banks to bring the contents of the circular to the notice of their constituents and customers for ensuring compliance of the provision of the FEMA Act.

  • I&B Ministry-bashing unwarranted, says NDTV’s Narayan Rao

    I&B Ministry-bashing unwarranted, says NDTV’s Narayan Rao

    MUMBAI:  For the past one and a half years, India has been undergoing stomach churning change in the television industry thanks to the government mandated rollout of digitisation. With the due date to complete digitisation nationwide getting closer (31 December), much needs to be done. Now, with a new government in place and new Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar assuring the industry that digitisation will be implemented, expectations are only rising.

     

    The recent CII meeting that took place with Javadekar saw industry stalwarts express their woes and wish-lists to the minister. They also expressed their displeasure at the inefficiency of the I&B bureaucracy.

     

    I&B joint secretary of broadcasting Supriya Sahu and I&B secretary Bimal Julka were targets of accusations of delays in clearances and permissions.

     

    Some other industry leaders – while appreciating the fact that the I&B Ministry  pushed through DAS, whereas CAS in 2006-2007 just fell through –  have lambasted even the TRAI – along with the I&B Ministry – at industry  gatherings over the past six months for not moving fast and determinedly enough on many issues that have impacted their businesses.

     

     NDTV vice chairperson and News Broadcasters Association president KVL Narayan Rao thinks that industry needs to keep a cool head and not resort to bureaucracy bashing. Narayan Rao has nearly 30 years work experience; half of that was spent in the bureaucracy with the Indian Revenue Service (1979-1994); the other half has been with the news network NDTV.

     

    Says he: “I think the attack on the bureaucracy, particularly that on the I&B Ministry, was quite unfair. We currently have some highly efficient officials at the I&B Ministry who have shown a lot of understanding of our issues and have tried to do all they can to solve them. Supriya Sahu and Bimal Julka come immediately to mind.”

     

    At the CASBAA India 2014 conference in New Delhi earlier this year, Sahu made a detailed presentation on the progress and benefits of digitisation stating that only 10 broadcasters had shared data with the Ministry. She appealed to other broadcasters to share revenue data with them so that the government could ascertain whether the digitisation dividend was really coming the way of industry.

     

    If one harks back to 2012 almost everyone was cynical that the government mandated digital addressable system (DAS) rollout would ever become a reality. Almost everyone scoffed at even the suggestion. But it was a determined ministerial secretariat led by the then secretary Uday Kumar Varma and his team which consisted of Supriya Sahu and her directors Reijemon who pushed it through – along with the TRAI. Julka who replaced Varma has been following the same narrow strait.

     

    Hence Rao feels that constant hurling of barbs at ministry officials is unpalatable. Says he:  “Please remember that this is virtually the same lot of officials who ensured the implementation of the first two phases of digitisation which isn’t an easy task at all, who also issued the notification on ratings agencies, a long pending demand of the industry, and issued over 400 permissions for channels and who have allowed self/independent regulation to prevail. Yes there have been delays now and then but how much of that can be attributed to the bureaucrats is debatable.”

     

    Indeed, several initiatives were taken by the I&B mandarins. Officials regularly met (at one time it was almost weekly) with industry executives – whether from broadcasting, MSOs, or LCOs – to asses digitisation’s progress. The security clearance check that directors of various channels were subject to – which pained many a broadcaster – came at the behest of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

     

    When a large grouping from the broadcasting industry  rose against the only TV ratings agency TAM, it was the I&B Ministry that took note of it and came up with policy guidelines for TV viewership monitoring. It was the Ministry which also pushed the institution of Broadcasting Audience Research Council, which the industry had kept in cold storage for almost half a decade.

     

    After the Saradha chit fund scam, the Ministry quickly stepped in and did a check of the shareholding pattern of various channels to prevent repeats of a similar nature.

     

    When TRAI came out with the 10+2 ad cap regulation, the Ministry supported the broadcasters’ view in keeping it at bay till digitisation pans out, though nothing concrete has come out of it as yet.

     

    Additionally, while the Ministry did use the stick, it also doled out carrots by extending DAS deadlines on more than a few occasions – keeping in mind the realities on the ground – to give it a reasonable chance at success. Despite the long rope extended by both TRAI and the I&B Ministry, industry at the cable TV and MSO level has yet to begun physical billing for DAS subscribers even in some phase I cities. Forget about phase II.

     

    Says a media observer: “Agreed for the last three or four months of the UPA regime the Ministry’s focus was on the election; industry issues were not a high priority. It was not a fault of the civil servants alone; the Ministry itself and the government on the whole could not move, thanks to the losses in the New Delhi state elections, and the stigma of corruption which kept hitting the Congress I in its face. I can understand some sections of the industry getting edgy, nervous and agitated for many a broadcaster’s, DTH operator’s business plans are linked to digitisation’s success and the fact that bureaucrats and ministries don’t throw a spanner in the works.”

     

    She adds: “But we have to remember we have a new government led by Narendra Kumar Modi who has a lot more freedom than the previous regime. There’s a lot of positivity around, even though there are economic challenges on hand. The industry should look ahead, and not back. Things can only get better, and with experienced officials in the Ministry at helm, it will be easier to push through things. New ones could end up taking longer as they will have to come to grips with the sector – and that takes time.”

     

    That’s a piece of advice which the irate members of the industry can ponder upon.

  • Major reshuffle of IIS officers by I&B Ministry

    Major reshuffle of IIS officers by I&B Ministry

    NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is all set for a major reshuffle of Indian Information Service (IIS) officers posted all over the country.

      

    Senior IIS officer S. R. Kar has been posted as director (Media and Communications) in the Press Information Bureau following his promotion to the selection grade. Kar will continue to look after the work of DPR (Defence) as well.

     

    K Muthukumar, who was until now posted in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been transferred to Doordarshan News as additional director general.

     

    Jane Namchu who was special correspondent for Prasar Bharati in Kathmandu has been posted in the Directorate of Field Publicity in Siliguri. He succeeds Akash Luxman who has been posted as director (lEC) in the Rural Development Ministry.

     

    D M Kakadia has been moved from the Rural Development Ministry as director (News) in DD News.

     

    R K Jain has on repatriation from Directorate of Film Festivals been posted as director (News) in the News Services Division in All India Radio.

     

    Manisha Verma who was until now director (M&C) in PIB, New Delhi has been moved as chief media in the Health and Family Welfare Ministry and will also look after the publicity work of the Ministry, which has currently been under the charge of PIB officers.

     

    Raj Kumar moves from the Central Board of Film Certification’s Delhi office to become Director (M&C), PIB.

     

    K Satish Nambudiripad will become a director (M&C), PIB on repatriation from the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry.

     

    A K Mishra moves from CBFC Cuttack to become director in the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. He replaces R K Jain who has been moved to Bhopal as director in DFP with additional charge of RNU, DD Kendra in Bhopal.

     

    Prabhavati Akashi who was director (M&C) in PIB, New Delhi is being moved as director of DFP in Pune. She is replaced as Director (M&C), PIB, New Delhi by Maushami Chakravarty on repatriation from Heavy Industries Ministry.

     

    S K Mohapatra who was Deputy Director (M&C), PIB, New Delhi is now being moved as deputy director (M&C), PIB in Kolkata.

     

    J Kamraj, deputy director (News), DD News, New Delhi is to be the new deputy director (News), DD Kendra in Chennai.

     

    Neetu Sona M., until now assistant director (News), in NSD: AIR, New Delhi is moving as assistant director to the Publications Division in Thiruvananthapuram.

     

    Sukhendu Das, until now assistant director (News), DD Kendra in Imphal is to join as assistant director (News), DD Kendra in Kolkata. He replaces R L Borathakur who is being moved as assistant director (News), DD Kendra in Guwahati.

  • TRAI issues consultation paper on regulating local TV channels

    TRAI issues consultation paper on regulating local TV channels

    MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is going to look at putting in place regulations relating to local TV channels now.

     

    In a consultation paper released today, the TRAI has sought stakeholders’ opinions on the regulatory framework that could be drawn up for local content channels in order to put them on a par with TV channels that are broadcast via satellite.

     

    The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) – through its secretary Uday Kumar Verma (in January 2013) – had asked the regulator to come up with its recommendations for the same.

     

    The TRAI consultation paper states that MSOs, LCOs, DTH operators, HITS and IPTV service providers (all called as distribution platform operators – or DPOs-  henceforth) are running local channels aka platform services (PS) that don’t have the MIB’s permission. Some channels that are transmitted by the DPOs through the PS channels have content similar to regular TV channels.

     

    TRAI has made it clear in the consultation paper that DAS has changed the context for DPOs and their PS as far as cable TV operators are concerned. The reason: with digitization, it is only the MSOs who can transmit encrypted signals from their headends on cable TV networks; LCOs can no longer transmit their own local ground based channels.

     

    The regulator states that there has been a debate on whether PS channels can be considered as a conventional TV channel or a value added service (VAS) because broadcast TV channels are charaterised by continuous dissemination of content in a push mode to all subscribers through DPOs. On the other hand, PS channels provide content in a pull mode triggered by a specific need or demand of consumers.

     

    TRAI has queried whether stakeholders agree with the following definition of a PS and if not then to suggest an alternative: “PS are programs transmitted DPOs exclusively to their own subscribers and does not include Doordarshan channels and TV channels permitted under downlinking guidelines.”

     

    Programmes on PS

     

    PS generally includes music, movies, news, devotional, entertainment, local news, live events, teleshopping, kids programs, serials, documentaries, regional programs, local plays, infotainment, market news, educational, and interactive games.

     

    TRAI has asked stakeholders to provide their views on whether a PS channel cannot transmit news or current affairs, coverage of political events, programmes already shown on DD or other TV channels, international/national and state level sporting events or games like IPL, Ranji Trophy. Whether what it shows can include programmes such as movies, VOD, interactive games, coverage of local events and festivals,  traffic, weather, educational/ academic programs (such as coaching classes), information regarding examinations, results, admissions, career counseling, availability of employment opportunities, job placement, Public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts etc. as provided by the local administration,  Information pertaining to sporting events excluding live coverage, live coverage of sporting events of local nature i.e. sport events played by district level (or below) teams and where no broadcasting rights are required.

     

    It has also asked the timeframe for reviewing whether a PS is trespassing into the domain of a regular TV broadcaster.

     

    Eligibility criteria for PS

     

    All categories of DPOs, apart from MSOs, are required to be registered under the Companies Act. To ensure uniformity in the legal status of all DPOS, TRAI suggests that a DPO offering a PS must register under the same. Therefore, the process of incorporation as a company has been simplified. Since the act allows even one person to register as a Company, small MSOs that are registered with the MIB can now register under the Companies Act.

     

    TRAI has asked whether it is mandatory for all DPOs to be registered as companies to be allowed to operate PS or to suggest an alternative.

     

    FDI limit for PS

     

    Currently news channels are allowed only 26 per cent FDI and a recommendation to increase it to 49 per cent is pending with the government. On the other hand, MSOs can have FDI up to 74 per cent. The regulator states that exclusion of ‘news and current affairs’ category of programmes from a PS channel would address this unevenness. It asks views on the same.

     

    Other issues

     

    As per the downlinking guidelines, an applicant company needs to have a minimum net worth of Rs 5 crore to downlink of its first TV channel and Rs 2.5 crore for any additional channel. It asks if there is a need for a minimum net-worth requirement for offering PS channels. Additionally, it also seeks to know if such channels should be subject to similar security clearances as applicable to private satellite TV channels.

     

    The TRAI also requests inputs on registration of PS channels with the MIB for which it would introduce a time bound centralised online registration system. Registration can be for 10 years with renewal for another 10 years. At the time of registration, the DPO should also declare the type of programmes it will transmit and any changes should be informed 30 days prior to a change.

     

    Although TRAI feels market forces would compel the DPOs to restrict transmission of channels to a local geographical area, it still asks for stakeholders’ views on should there be any limit in terms of geographical area for PS channels. Also, if there should there be a limit on the number of PS channels which can be operated by a DPO.

     

    Inputs on other obligations/restrictions that need to be imposed on DPOs for offering a PS such as non-sharing of a PS with another DPO and compliance with the programming and advertising code and TRAI’s regulations on quality of service and complaint redressal are also sought.

     

    Certain DTH operators transmit radio channels while some radio stations provide it through the net as over the top services. It asks whether a DPO should be permitted to re-transmit already permitted and operational FM radio channels under a suitable arrangement with the FM operator and if there should be a limit on the number of such channels.

     

    In order to monitor the kind of content that is being transmitted through the PS channels, DPOs may be mandated to keep a record of programmes for 90 days and produce it as and when required. The regulator asks for a monitoring mechanism.

     

    Whether a PS should be penalised in a manner similar to TV broadcasters, is also asked. Lastly, it seeks a timeframe for the registration of existing PS channels  once it is notified by the MIB.

     

    Comments are required to be submitted by 14 July and counter comments by 21 July.

     

    Click here to read the TRAI consultation paper on regulating local TV channels